'American Idol' reveals Top 5 for tour coming to Sands Bethlehem Event Center. How did we do on predictions?

When Sands Bethlehem Event Center announced nine days ago that the “American Idols Live!” tour will stop at the venue on July 25, we here at Lehigh Valley Music predicted who would be in the Top 5 that will be in the show. (Unlike the first 13 seasons of the show, the tour will feature only the Top 5 contestants rather than the Top 10.)

With Wednesday’s show, that lineup is now set. And here’s how we did with our predictions:

Our predictions were ruined right away when Joey Cook, who we predicted would make the Top 5 got voted off next. She wasn’t our cup of tea, but we thought she was more honestly quirky, and with the underlying ability to sing.

We were correct that Quentin Alexander wouldn’t make the Top 5. We said he isn’t a horrible singer, just mediocre, who tied very hard to stand out, with his goofy Buckwheat hair and sunburst nose ring. Luckily, viewers voted on his voice, not his persona, and he was voted off last night.

THE TOP 5

We said Rayvon Owen had skated by for too long, with too little talent and said he would be eliminated. But he skated again Wednesday, and is in the Top 5.

Nick Fradiani: Largely the same that we said about Quentin can be said about Nick. He’s got a pleasant but weak voice. The problem is that Nick thinks he’s a really, really good singer, and by doing that only shows how far short he falls. He made the Top 5, as we predicted.

Jax: Truthfully, Jax is just awful. It ruins the credibility of the “Idol” judges to, week after week, not call her out for making songs strained and strange instead of singing them well – because she can’t sing them well. But she has someone’s support and we said she would make the Top 5, and did.

Tyanna Jones: We said Jones honestly should walk away with this year’s crown, with her natural , belting, textured voice that has real R&B chops. We still think she should win, but …

Clark Beckham: We said Beckham has some honest talent, even though he tries to make himself a blue-eyed soul singer that he’s not quite up to. But Beckham has the traditional makings of an “Idol” winner: He’s a white male who appeals to an older audience. He’s the second-best talent, which has always meant winner on “Idol,” since the viewers root for the underdog.

We still feel that way.

So there’s the Top 5 you’ll see at Sands Bethlehem Event Center at 8 p.m. July 25.

Tickets, at $43.50-$63.50, are on sale at www.sandseventcenter.com, the event center box office, www.Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 800-745-3000.